Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N :The original story was only the first three chapters, but something happened that made me extend it, so you might recognize a sudden change in length. Haha.

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Harry's POV

No. She couldn't have. She couldn't leave.

I scribbled a note to Cho on a piece of paper before getting my coat.

"Ron Weasley's Apartment!" I shouted into the emerald flames. I dropped the Floo powder and instantly, I feel backwards into nothingness. After a few minutes of swirling, I finally arrived.

I expected an empty house, I was only going to look for some clue that might tell me what time she was actually leaving.

But all of them, the entire Dumbledore's Army with the exception of Hermione, was here. They were all sitting in the living room, with blank expressions and red eyes.

"Too late," Ginny said. "I told you. You should've told her. But you were a coward. Now she's gone. And we're not sure when she's coming back."

Ginny stood up and left the room.

I never even got the chance to try and break through security to go after her. I never managed to chase after the plane she was riding. I never managed to kneel in defeat down on the tarmac. I never got to experience any of those movie cliches.

And this was definitely real. Hermione is definitely gone. And none of us is sure when she'll come back. Or if she'll ever come back, for that matter.

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Four years later. . .

Hermione's POV

Yes. I made it.

I didn't think I could last a year detached from the Wizarding World, but here I am, perfectly fine. Okay, I admit that I still keep my wand with me at all times but I survived without magic 24/7. That has to account for something, right?

"I can't believe we're almost done!" my roommate, Aaliyah Berger gushed. "I mean, like, tomorrow, we graduate!"

"I know, right? Everything's so fast," I replied. So fast that I didn't even have enough time to forget Harry.

"So," she began while taking down the posters on her walls, "why aren't you packing yet? Aren't you going back to London?"

"Um, no actually," I replied. "I applied for graduate school-"

"Oh, wait, don't tell me . . . you got accepted!" she squealed. "I mean, there's no doubt about that, you're Summa Cum Laude and everything! They'll be crazy not to accept you! They accepted you, right?"

"Well, yeah," I said. "So I'm staying in school."

"Hermione," Aaliyah whined disapprovingly. "When are you going to learn to live your life? You're only young once!"

"I know, so why not spend the time learning?" I reasoned.

"Why not spend the time going out there and looking for the love of your life?" she said, using the same tone I used. She was seriously starting to annoy me. "You're young! You're smart! You're beautiful! Someone is bound to fall in love with you ASAP-"

"I already found the love of my life, okay?" I finally said. This was the one thing I kept from her. We're parting ways tomorrow anyway. Why not tell her now? "But he doesn't feel the same way. I was a stupid girl to have hoped."

"Wha-What did you say?"

"He's the reason I left Britain," I continued. "I didn't tell him how I felt before he went off to . . . military school. When he came back, I was bursting to tell him, but he was already with someone else. So, I flew here to finish college."

"Why the hell didn't you tell him?" Aaliyah said, sounding like Ginny. Then my heart leaped. I just realized that I missed Ginny so much.

"He was my best friend, how am I supposed to tell him?"

Aaliyah's jaw dropped. "Ron?" she clarified, almost disgusted. "The love of your life is Ron? Oh come on, Hermione! He's practically your brother!"

"No, of course not," I said. "His name's-" I took a deep breath. I wasn't prepared to say his name, I haven't said or heard it in four years-"Harry Potter. I didn't tell you about him because . . . I wanted to steer away from that subject. I hoped that, in four years, I'd forget him."

"And apparently, it wasn't," she answered.

"No it wasn't," I agreed.

A long silence ensued between us.

"You can't run away from your problems!" Aaliyah said. "You just have to think positive and run right at them."

"I wish I was that much an optimist, you know," I replied. "Besides, I can't go running into his house and declare, 'Hey, Harry, I'm completely in love with you, please marry me.' I'd be barking mad if I do that."

"Why not?"

Here comes the hard part. I looked up for a second to prevent my tears from falling. "I left because he was engaged," I said. "I know I won't stand seeing him married to someone who's not me. I didn't want to ruin his life by being the girl who's all, 'here I am, don't mind me, I'm fine, honestly,' because he'll know full well that I'm not okay."

"Oh," Aaliyah replied in defeat. "Well. That puts everything in a different position.

More silence.

"I'm gonna miss you, you know," I finally said.

"Me too," she replied. Then we hugged each other before she continued packing.

The next day was pretty busy. Aaliyah and I did each other's make up while trying not to cry. I also managed to ask her if she could come with me to look at apartments.

After prettying ourselves, we managed to get into our dresses and togas without ruining anything.

"I can't believe this," Aaliyah said, fighting back a sob.

"Oh no, oh no, don't cry, don't cry, I'll cry too!" I pleaded. She wrung her hands a bit and, after a few seconds, managed to compose herself.

And then, it was time.

Walking up the stage felt good. Holding my diploma felt good. Receiving my medal felt even better. But then, a tiny voice from the stands screamed, "Yay, Aunt 'Mione!" I haven't talked to anyone in four years. Maybe some of them got married. Maybe Ginny or Luna made sure not to make the same mistake I made.

After the ceremony, I was mobbed by my friends and classmates whose parents began snapping pictures. Soon, hugs were given all around.

"Stay in touch, Hermione!"

"Don't forget me, okay?"

"Thanks for teaching me those awesome British recipes, Hermione!"

"I know you'll be famous!"

"Good luck with your Masters, Hermione!"

All of us cried. What we worked so hard for in the morning was now running down our faces.

"It's over!" Aaliyah cried, here make up running. "Hermione, when you're famous and everything, don't forget you have a best friend here in the States, 'kay?"

"Forget you?" I said. "That's impossible! You ate the Kitchen Sink with me at San Francisco! We rode that roller coaster in Orlando together! You taught me how to freakin' order at Starbucks! I'll never forget you!"

"Oh, I love you, Hermione," she said, crying even more and choking me in a tight hug.

"Love you too," I replied, crying as well.

I was pretty sad when I returned to our room alone. The bed which was usually messy, feathery, fluffy, furry and pink was now just a gray mattress. The walls which were adorned with Hollywood movie stars' posters and various pictures were now barren. The room was simply lifeless. I have to find an apartment soon.

Luckily, on our first day of hunting, I found an apartment immediately. In three days, I was ready to move in.

On moving day I had help from Aaliyah's boyfriend Travis, my closest guy friend Cory Stoll and of course, Aaliyah.

"It's finally over!" Travis said gleefully, collapsing on the couch. "You're lucky you have us to help you."

"You don't have to go all Jiminy Cricket on me, Travis," I said. "I already ordered pizza."

"Oh, thank God!" Cory said applauding with Aaliyah and Travis. "You're the best, Mines." He too, collapsed on the couch. Mines was the nickname he had for me since he thought Hermione was too long to call when there's an emergency and that Mione sounded too cutesy. I used to hate it when Ron calls me Hermes, because, come on, Hermes is Percy's owl! Sometimes I'd ask him why he won't call me Mione like Harry, but that's just me being biased. Oh well.

Aaliyah was sandwiched between the two boys who were laughing. I just stared at them for a minute and was momentarily transported back to the Gryffindor Common Room. The setting reminded me so much of a past life.

"You guys look like the Golden Trio," I muttered with a smile. I almost cried. I saw them exchange a few puzzled looks, then I shook my head and wiped a tear from my eye.

After the pizza party, the three of them left, promising that they'd be there when I needed them (Cory), that they'll check in with me from time to time (Aaliyah) and that I'll never get rid of them no matter what (Travis, as usual).

"I'll remember that," I said with a laugh before closing the door.

When I was alone, I managed to clean everything up in a half hour. I haven't lasted five minutes on the couch when someone knocked on the door. Maybe Cory forgot something.

It wasn't Cory. It was neither Travis nor Aaliyah. The man who stood before me had jet black hair, green eyes and a lightning-shaped scar. I'd know that scar anywhere.

It was the face that brought me here. The face I failed to forget in the last four years.

Harry Potter.

"H-Harry?" Words failed me. I wanted to ask him a lot of questions. What is he doing here? How did he find me? How did he know that today was the day I was moving in?

I was about to say something when tiny arms grabbed my knees. I looked down and saw a scar-less miniature version of Harry Potter.

"Hi, Aunt Mione," the little boy said with a grin. I can't help but smile.

"Where's Cho?" I asked.

"Um, er, long story," Harry replied. He did not look his best.

"Well, you can't stay outside all day, can you?" I said. I grinned at mini-Harry. "You want some Oreos?"

"Yay!" the boy screamed. I scooped Tiny Potter in my arms and carried him inside. Harry followed reluctantly with a goofy, lopsided smile.

"What's your name?" I asked mini-Harry.

"Same as Daddy," he replied. "But I know who you are! You're Mione Granger! You're my daddy's best friend. But he told me you had to go to yoo-ni-ser . . . uh yoo-di-ner-vi-well, school. That's why I haven't seen you. And now, I see you! I'm so happy!" Little Harry wrapped his arms around me in his tightest hug.

"Aww, that's so sweet!" I said, touching his tiny nose. "And I have to say, I'm impressed! You really are a tiny version of your Daddy!"

"I get that a lot," he said, sighing loudly. I can't help but laugh. He was just so adorable!

I poured him a glass of milk and set the tray down on the table. I made coffee for me and Harry. Mini-Harry sat down beside the real Harry. There was something on his mind. I could tell.

"Okay, Potter, spill," I said. I began counting off my fingers. "One, how did you find me here? Two, why is Cho Chang not here? Three, exactly how much did you tell this little carbon copy of yours?"

He laughed at my final question. "I'm going to answer your questions, beginning with the last one." For the third question, he said he's been telling Harry about our school adventures as bedtime stories since he was born. For the second one, apparently, on the day I left, Cho told him she was pregnant. Immediately, they got married, but when Harry was born, Cho admitted that she was having a hard time handling everything. She left her baby behind when he was about six months old and he's been taking care of Harry ever since, with help, of course, from Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville. Recently, they managed to finish their divorce papers. Cho was now back in Hong Kong with her family.

"As for the first question, well, it was quite simple, really," he said. "I searched your name on the Internet and an article came up saying that you were a Summa Cum Laude in your batch. Then, I asked the University who I could contact. They gave me Aaliyah Berger's number. I called her on the night before your graduation and she told me what you were planning. So, here we are."

"How long has it been since you got here?"

"About a couple of weeks."

"Where are you staying?"

"A cheap hotel near Brown."

"Oh." I looked at Little Potter who was still snacking on the Oreos, carefully following the twist, lick and dunk procedure. "Harry, do you want to stay with Aunt Hermione before you have to go back to London?"

"Yes! Yes! YES!" he replied enthusiastically. "Daddy pleeeease!"

"Are you sure that's okay?" harry asked.

"Hey, I wouldn't be asking the little boy who obviously wants to if it wasn't okay."

"Alright, then," Harry said to his son.

"Yay!" he immediately screamed.

"Finish your Oreo and your milk, then we'll go and get your stuff."

"Okay, Aunt Mione!" He put the last bit of Oreo in his mouth and gulped down all his milk. "All done. Let's go!"

I smiled at the enthusiasm of the little boy and went to get my coat. I put the dirty dishes in the sink then we went down to hail a cab.

After collecting their stuff, we went back to the apartment.

Dinner was absolutely wonderful. Harry and I caught up on each other and I asked about how everyone else was doing. Little Harry would sometimes tell his own stories, which I found absolutely adorable. An hour after dinner, he was already fast asleep. I insisted that he sleep there along with Harry, while I slept on the couch.

"You know what, let's just leave him alone and talk in the living room, okay?" I said. I made us tea and sat down. For a few minutes, we were sipping tea in silence.

"Oh wait, who married who, exactly?" I asked.

"Ron married Luna-" he said.

"What?"

"Neville married Hannah-"

"Inevitable."

"And you'll never believe who Ginny married," Harry said with a mysterious smile. He was bursting to tell me.

"Who?" I asked. "Oh, wait not-? NO!"

"Yes," Harry said with a huge grin. "Draco."

"I never thought you'd be able to say his first name," I scoffed.

"I never thought too," he replied. "He just . . . sort of changed, you know? He's not all strutty anymore. Kinda nice actually."

"Malfoy? Nice?" I said.

"I promise," Harry said. "He's still egoistic and stuff, but he's a good guy."

"Wow, I have got to meet that Draco Malfoy you are talking about," I said with a hearty laugh. "And did anybody have kids yet?"

"Uh, Ron and Luna," he replied. "They had twins a couple of years ago."

"Twins?" I said incredulously. "Wow. What about Draco and Ginny?"

"Nah, they just got married last month," he replied.

"Oh," I replied. "I guess Aaliyah was right."

"What do you mean?"

I was quiet for a while. "She told me I shouldn't be spending almost all of my life in school. She told me I should go out and . . . find the love of my life."

"Well, she is right," Harry agreed. "You shouldn't coop yourself up in the walls of school. Sooner or later you have to go out into the real world. No more textbooks to teach you what to do. No more teachers to show you how it's done."

"I never really understood why everybody keeps saying that," I said in frustration.

"I never really understood why you had to give me that letter," he said. Oh no. For almost a minute I didn't say anything.

"I . . . I didn't want to ruin your life," I replied. "I mean . . . you and Cho . . . you guys were so happy. I didn't want to butt in and be the third wheel."

"Let me tell you something, Hermione," Harry began. "Cho . . . I didn't initially love her. I just learned to love her. I shouldn't be in Gryffindor. I'm nothing but a coward. The reason why I convinced Ron to go training early was because . . . I knew you wanted to do something purposeful in your life. I didn't want to be in the way."

"That doesn't even make sense Harry," I said with a laugh.

"You want me to make sense?" Harry replied. He moved closer to me and held my hand. "I'm so sorry that I never told you." He caressed my face with one hand and moved it closer to his. I closed my eyes and soon, I got pretty much what I wanted all this time.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"I told you, I was scared," he replied. "I never thought that pretty, smart, witty, nice Hermione Granger would ever feel the same for her best friend."

I smiled at his words. "Shut up and kiss me, Harry."

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